Pope Francis delivered his first Christmas Day address Wednesday to an estimated 150,000 people in the Vatican and asked for a better world.
NBC News reports that the pope asked for the world to end the “hatred and vengeance” that is occurring in Syria as well as “heal the wounds” of Iraq.
The address was full of calls to end international conflict all over the world. The pope even included a line about a favorable outcome in peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Pope Francis’ words were met with chants of support from St. Peter’s Square. The speech was truly inspirational and was given to a large group of people that yielded flags from countries all over the world.
USA Today recalled words from the speech, talking about migrants who have drowned trying to reach European shores this year. The pope also spoke of those who are still being persecuted for their Christianity.
Pope Francis kept true to the style he has set for himself. He wore humble robes, quite different from the expensive and showy robes worn exactly a year ago by Pope Benedict XVI.
The pope’s first Christmas address really called on the people to look at themselves, think of those who are suffering and to bridge the gap between one another (whether it is wealth or religion that created the gap).